Earth piercing device



Aug. 16, 1932.

l.1. R. swEENEY ETAL 1,872,523

EARTH PIERCING DEVICE Filed Nov. 13. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 Invemorsy )e 47 ug. 16, 14932. J, RQSWEENEY ETAL 1,872,523

EARTH PIERCING DEVICE Filved Nov. 13. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vw N v Q #l oo o f Q; Invenfor Aug 16, 1932- J. R. swl-:ENL-Y ETAL 1,872,523

EARTH PIERCING DEVICE Filed NCW.` 13. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 46 4.; fr z2/.-

I lll lnveni-ors'.

i f i Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED" STATES fPlvrEN'rI fori-'Ica JOSEPH R. SWEENEY AND EDMUND W. ROBERTS, OFICINCINNATI, OHIO, ABSIGNOB'E T0 OCONNELL AND SWEENEY, A PARTNERSHIP COHPOSED 0F ROBERT D. OCON'NELL A.Il\D,'OSEPH R. SWEENEY, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO marx rimento nevica 'Application-mea November 13,1929. semi no. 406.350.

pavement curb, or at the edge of the roadway in case the street is unpaved. Through the earth intervening-between the trenches, and also between the second trench and the building there must be made an opening through which to pass the service pip'e or electric conductor.

Heretofore', the most expeditious means for making this opening has been by forcing a rod 'or a-"pipe through the earth by means of a hand jacking device. In the operation of the hand jacking device, the pipe is grasped by suitable jaws, and these jaws are pushed forward a few inches at a time by an intermittent movement produced by a ratcheting device served with a long lever. Thus the pipe is forced through the earth a. step at. a time. The forward movement of the jaws is limited for one grip, and they must be slid back for a new grip on the pipe for about every foot of forward traverse. In addition, the pipe is in short sections, and frequent stops are required to join on a new section of pipe. The speed of piercing the earth by such a device is very slow, the net advance being at the rate of approximately7 five feet per hour. It is to be noted that the pipe is not rotated, hence there is no rotary boring action. The earth is pierced by being forced aside by the end of the pipe (customarily pointedl and compressed into the material surrounding the opening.

The chief object of the invention which is the subject of this specification isto shorten the time required to pierce a certain distance through the earth as compared to methods heretofore employed therefor, and thus making the openingl more expeditiously than has been accomplis ed by former methods. Another object of the invention is to apply. mo-

. tive power to the piercing means, thereby increasing the pressure available for advancing the piercing rod, making it possible to pierce earth which cannot be perforated by hand power. Another object of the invention is to provide for mobility of the iercing means. Another object is to provi e for convenient manipulation of the mechanism provided for lowering into and raising from the trench the piercing meansz whereb this' operation may be performed with expe 'tion. Another object is to provide means which will permit of continuous operation of the piercing mechanism, whereby the piercing operation shall'be continuous from the time the point of the rod enters the'earthuntil the opening is completed, lno stop being madefor coupling sections of the for any other pur ose.

This inventlon as been fully reduced to piercing rod or practice, the drawings and the specificationsl illustrating and describing an earth iercing device, incor orating the rincip esof this invention, w ich is in dai y use. The actual speed of piercing earth of average tenacity, with the device, hereinafter described, is at the rate of two feet'per minute as compared to five feet per hour by hand piercingmethods. This is a ratio of twentyfour to one. the rod forcing mec anism may -be lowered into or raised from a trench five feet deep in one-half minute or less. The operation` of piercing is continuous from the moment the point of the rod enters the earth until it emerges at the end of opening. Ample ressure is available from the power derived rom the engine of as mall truck to pierce any kind of earth with the exception of solid rock. Loose stone or heavy gravel, that cannot be driven through 4by hand piercing means,'has been forced through by a machine embodying the principles .of this invent-ion. As will be shown, the combination is efficient and it incorporates a simple and effective means of transmitting motive force from thei'ehicle motor to the piercing rod.

The apparatus is mobile, and

The processing of this invention is accomplished by the employment of a piercing rod made u of a plurality of threaded round bars or )ack screws, preferably in units each three feetlong, providing means for coupling these units end to end, and thereby combining them into a continuous screw of any desired len th. Attached to the rear end of the frame o a motor vehicle and pivoted thereon is a short swing frame and slidably mounted within the swing frame is a third frame adapted to slide vertically, thus adapting the frame to be raised or lowered, an operation accomplished by motive power. In the lower end of the sliding frame there is provided a nut mounted in the frame, the

nut adapted to receive the piercing rod, and

4to propel the rod therethrough when rotated. `The nut is adapted to be driven by the vehicle motor-,through suitable gearing. The rod is splined and passed through suitable keyed guides to prevent it from rotation by the nut. For the reason that the rod does notprotate, the threaded units of which it is comprised can be coupled one to the other while the rodis progressing through the nut and without stopping it for said coupling operation.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred form of the invention, and shows a fragment of the rear portion of a motor vehicle with the earth piercing device attached thereto, partially in section on line 1--1 of Fi 3.

Fig. 2 is a plan viev'v of the meciianism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the earth piercing device, partially in section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a complete unit of the piercing rod joined to a fragment of a second unit, the ligure being partially in section along the line 4-4 of. Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the rod of Fig: 4. l

ig. 6 vis a side elevation of the rod nut in section along the line 6-6 of Fi 7.

Fig. 7 is an .end elevation o the nut of Fig: 6.

ig. 8 is an end elevation of the Worm 'gear employed in driving the nut, and a side elevation of the worm, showing the two in engagement.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the worm gear along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the guide ring for guidin the piercing rod, the ring being shown in p ace in the guide-ring bracket.

, Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation of the guide ring and its bracket along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

In the drawings there are shown a majority of the frame members with no apparent method of attachment, one to the other, This is because these members are welded together by the electric process.

Referring to the drawings, the fragmentary portion of the motor vehicle shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a frame 12, and rear wheels 13 supporting the rear end of the vehicle through the medium of the springs 14. The rear wheels are mounted on driving axles of which one is indicated at 15, the axle being encased in the housing 15. The engine is not indicated, but it is in driving relation through the medium of the propeller shaft 16 and the axle 15, with the rear wheels 13.

Since the functions and the relations of the parts of a motor vehicle are well known in the art, no further description thereof will be given.

Mounted on the propeller 'shaft 16 is the gear 17, which may be one'of the gears of the customary change gear set of the motor vehicle. Gear 17 is in driving relation with the bevel pinion 20, through the medium of gear 18, shaft 19, and the universal joints 21 and 22. Pinion 20 is in continuous driving engagement with bevel gears 23 and 24, the latter being free to turn on shaft 25. Within the faces of gears 23 and 24, and integral therewith, are the internal gear teeth 23 and 24, the teeth and the spaces provided therebetween, forming the female members of a jaw clutch.

Slidably mounted on the shaft 25, and splined thereto, is the double-ended gear 26 provided with geared ends 27 and 28. A groove 26 is provided between the geared ends. The teeth of this gear are adapted to engagement with the internal gear teeth 23 and 24', either one or the other. IVithin the groove 26 are locatedthe clutch fingers 29, pivoted to turn in shifter arms 30. 'I'he shifter arms are keyed to shaft 31. Indicated in broken lines is a lever 31 keyed to the outer end of the shaft 31. The lower end of lever 31 is connected to link 32 at one end thereof, the other end of 32 being connected to hand lever 32. The combination just de scribed provides means by which the operator may move gear 26 int-o or out of engagement with teeth 23 o'n gear 23 or with teeth 24 on gear 24. Moving the lever to the right in Fig. 1 engages the lower gear 24 and to the left the upper gear 23. Since gear 26 is splined to shaft 25, the engagement of gear 26 with one or the other of the bevel gears 23 or 24 causes the shaft to turn with that bevel gear in mesh with gear 26.

Shaft 25 is keyed at its lower end to coupling 33, the coupling is keyed to the worm shaft 34. and the shaft is keyed to worm 35,

Fig 8. The worm 35 is in engagement with worm gear 36 as shown in Fig. 8. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the tubular hub 36a of the worm gear is notched to provide castellated teeth 36?). These teeth are adapted to engage radial Alutins 39?) of the nut 39, Figs. 6 and 7.

The nut is clamped in place in hub 36a by means of nut 39 engaging threads 39e. At either end of nut 39 the internalI threads thereof are extended to form teeth 39d. These teeth serve to scrape earth from between the threads of the piercing rod 40, while the latter is being withdrawn from the hole. They have proven effective in ractice.

Jack screws forming units of the piercing rod are designated by the numeral 40, Figs. 1, 4 and 5. This numeral is further employed to designate the rod as a whole. The rod is provided with an external thread 40a. of acme orm, adapted to enga e a similar internal thread 39e in nut 39. he rod 40 is splined for its entire length on two opposite sides. The splines or extended keyways therein provided are designated by the numeral 40o. The units 40, com rising the piercing rod, are preferably ma e of steel tubin They are provided at each end thereof wit the internal threads 405. At one end of each unit is pinned coupling 41, provided with a short thread 41a and unthreaded extensions 415. Pin 42, passing through both the rod 40 and the coupling 41, prevents the couplin from unscrewing from the left hand unit o the rod. The coupling being long and. extending for half its length into the adjoining unit of the rod, serves to keep the units in alignment.

To effectively guide rod 40 and also to kees it from turning with nut 39, there is provide uide ring 44 fitted in bracket 43, and the racket is bolted to `gearcase 37. The ring and bracket are shown enlarged in 10 and 11. At diametrically o posite si es of guide ring' 44 and passing t erethrough are feather keys 45 adapted to engage the splines 40e provided in rod 40. These keys are extended into grooves 46 provided in 'bracket 43 in order to transmit the torsional strain upon screw 40 directly tothe bracket. The nrpose of ring 44 is two-fold. It provides or ready renewal of parts 44 and 45 subjected to wear, and it permits an openingto .be provided in bracket 43 of sufficient size to permit the nut 39 to be removed and passed through the opening. Rings 44 are made fgst in brackets 43 by means of set screws 4 The inner ends of the internal threaded sockets 405 in the ends of the rod-sections 40, (Fig. 4), and the ends of the threaded portions 41a of the couplings 41 next to the Unthreaded extensions 4112, form coacting shoulders for locating the external threads on nei hboring threaded piercing-rod sections am? the spline grooves 40o therein respectivel continuous, so that the same may be readily threaded in the nut 39 and pass along the feather keys 45, respectively, when the joined portions of the threaded rod-sections are fed axially through said nut. and past said feather keys.

In Fig. 1, a trench is indicated -by one of the walls T and the bottom T. In pre aration for piercing the earth at the ri t of trench wall T, the rod nut together w1th .the

worm 35, the gear 36, and the adjacent parts must be lowered into the trench. The gear case 37 surrounding the worm and worm gear is welded to the lower end of sliding frame 48. This frame is mounted to slide in swing frame 49 comprised of two channels 49' with inwardly facing troughs. To channels 49 are welded cross members 50. Welded to either side of frame 49 are trunnions 51 ad'apted to turn in trunnion bearings 52 -both screws through the same angle because of the connection provided by the chain 57. Pivoted to axle housing 15', through the medium of the brackets 60, are radius rods 59 provided with internal screw threads engaged with screws 55, 55. Turning the screws by means of handle 58 moves the low er end of frame 49 to or from the axle 15, and permits the adjustment of the .frames 48 and 49 to a vertical position and, incidentally, the axis of the nut 39 to a horizontal position.

To provide for lowering and raising'the sliding frame 48, there is provided a gear train and lifting screw illustrated in Fig. 3 andv shown, in part, in Fig. 1. Immediately above gear case 61,- enclosin gears 20, 23 and 24, is gear ca'se 62 enclosing the lifting gear trai-n. Slidably mounted on shaft 25,

and splined thereto, is gear 63. AdaptedA to' ar 64 free to engagement with gear 63 is ear 66 is promove axially on arbor 65.

lio

vided with an internal screw thread in engagement with vertically dis osed lifting screw-67. Screw 67 is provi ed with two splines, diametrically opposed. These splines are engaged with feather keys 68 fixed to cover 69 of gear case 62, to prevent the screw 67 from turning due to torsional effect of gear 66. In Fig. 3, gear 64 is shown en ged with'gears 63'and 66. As shown, an with shaft 25 engaged with one of the gears 23 or 24, gear 66 is constrained to turn by the effort l of the vehicle motor. Rotation of -gear 66 forces the screw 67 therethrough in a vertical direction. Screw 67 has, fixed to its lower end, the cou ling 70 pinned to link 71 by pin 72. Link 1 is pinned to gear-case 37 by means of pin 73. Hence, vertical movement of screw 67 raises or lowers gear-case keye 37' and frame 48, attached thereto, according to which gear 23 or 24 is engaged with shaft 25. Gear 64 is provided with groove 64 enga ed with shifting lever 7 4. Lever 74 is to-shaft 75, and the shaft is keyed to control lever 76. By means of lever 76, the operator may move gear 64 into or out of engagement with gears 63 and 66.

In the operation-of the earth piercing device the motor vehicle is backed to the end of the trench T, T to bring the rear end of frame 12 over the opening provided by previous excavation. The sliding gear 64 is shifted into engagement with gears 63 and 66 by manipulation of lever 76.v Pinion 20 is placed in operative connection with the veicle motor, thus transmittin rotary movement to gears 23 and 24. ssuming that clutch gear 26 is in engagement with gear 23, shaft 25 is rotated and through gears 63, 64. and 66 the screw 67 is thrust downward lowering ear case 37 and the parts attached thereto t e bottom of the trench. Just before the gear case 37 has reached the bottom T of the trench, the sliding frame is plumbed by turning the handle 58 to rotate the screws 55, 55 in the radius rods 59. The turning of the crank swings frame 49 and, with it, frame 48. v After determining by means of a spirit level or other plumbing device that the axis of nut 39 is horizontal, the frame 48 and the gear case 37 attached thereto are lowered to rest on the bottom of the trench. Gear 64 is then thrown out of mesh with gears 63 and 66, and the motor vehicle is anchored by chocking the wheels or the use of any suitable bracing to resist the recoil of the frame and the nut 39 to the thrust of the rod 40 when it is piercing the earth.

To start the piercing operation, the nut 39 is turned very slowly and the rst of the sections of the rod 40 is fed to the nut. When the end of this section emerges from that guide ring 44 which is nearest the wall T, the nut is stopped and the point 40 is screwed into the end of rod 40. The nut is started once more and its continued forward movement drives the point 40 into wall T and through the eartn beyond this-wall.

As the sections of the rod pass through the nut, additional sections are coupled to those already connectedand without stopping the advance of the rod. When the point 40 emerges at the opposite sido of the earth barrier being pierced, the rotation of the nut is reversed in direction by shifting the clutch gear 26 to engage the opposite of the bevel gears. As the sections emerge from the back of the nut and the rearmost of the guide rings 44, the units of rod 40 are uncoupled. Just before the section carrying the point 40 has reached the nut the point is uncoupled, the rotation of the nut being halted if necessary. Upon the removal of point 40 the nut is continued in reverse until the rod is free.

The

sliding frame is now raised by again enga ing the gear 64 with gears 63 and 66, and t e motor vehicle is ready for drivin awa The opening made by the ro 40 1s now ready for the reception of the service pipe or electric conductor, which may be inserted by pushing it into the opening, and therethrough. In actual practice, especially where the hole is long or the earth of such a nature that the hole maybe caved in, the point 40 is uncoupled after it emerges from the far side of the earth barrier, the pipe or conductor is coupled to the -end of the rod 40, and drawn through the hole as the rod is being withdrawn therefrom.

It should be noted that the device herein described is equally effective and adaptable to drive the rod 40 and with full force either through the earth beneath the vehicle or in the opposite direction. In making openings for service connections it is required, in the majority of cases, to pierce the earth beneath the street pavement and beneath the sidewalk as well. In such case the sections of the rod 40 are not uncoupled, the point 40 is attached to the rearmost rod section, and the rotation of nut 39 reversed. The rod is then forced into the earth rearward of the trench the desired distance, and withdrawn therefrom by reversal of the nut until the last section has emerged from the back of the trench, the rod passing for the second time into the earth through the first hole which it has made. An operator in the trench now uncouples the rod sections, the rod being withdrawn from the first hole as he does this. Axial movement of the rod is not stopped or slowed for either coupling or uncoupling the rod sections.

We claim 1. An earth piercing device, acting as a punch, comprising a non-rotatable threaded piercing rod, a nut adapted to receive the rod, the rod provided with one or more splines, guides external of the nut, the guides provided with one or more feather keys fixed thereto, the guides adapted to receive the rod, the splines adapted to receive the keys, the keys adapted to restrain the rod from rotation, power means for rotatng the nut in either direction, the rod comprised of a plurality of sections, means whereby one section may be coupled to another section, the whole in combination with a motor vehicle having a main wheeled frame, a vertical frame pivoted t0 swing upon said main frame, a sliding frame slidably mounted in the swinging frame, and an earth piercing construction as already set forth mounted in said sliding frame.

2. A structure as set forth in claim l, and means comprising a power driven screw for raising and lowering the sliding frame.

3. A structure as set forth in claim l, in-

cluding means comprising a power driven screw for raising and lowering the sliding frame, and means for operative y connecting said screw to the transmission gearing of a motor vehicle.

4. A. structure as set forth in claim 1, and means for raising and lowering the sliding frame.

5. In an earth piercing machine, the combination therewith of a motor vehicle having a main wheeled frame, axles for the rear Wheels thereof, the axles surrounded with housings as customarily provided, a swingin frame pivoted to said main frame, radius ros ivoted to the axle housing, internal thread; provided in the radius rods, screws adapted to turn in the Iradius rods, sprockets on the screws, a chain on the sprockets, a crank handle on one screw, the screws pivoted to the swinging frame, and the combination adapted to turn the swinging frame by rotation of the crank handle.

6. An earth piercing machine comprising in combination a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising a frame and the customary propelling means including a motor, transmission gear, axles and a housing surrounding the rear axle thereof, of a swinging frame plvoted on the vehicle frame, a sliding frame mounted in 'the swinging frame to slide therein, a screw jack supported by the sliding frame and mounted thereon, a sectional screw provided for the screw Jack and adapted to be driven therethrough, drivin means connecting the motor to the screw )ack to operate the same, driving means connected to the motor for raising and lowering the sliding frame, adjustable radius rods connecting the swinging frame to the axle housing to turn the swinging frame, the combination herein described adapted to lower the screw jack into a trench, to adJust the screw jack to level the axis thereof, and to drive the screw into the earth surrounding the trench to pierce a hole in the earth. y

7. In an earth piercing machine, the com- 'bination of a ground supported support, a

guide pivoted thereon, a depending slide slidable on said guide, a piercing rod at the lower end of said slide, means supporting said piercing rod on said slide with its axis extending in lateral directions substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the axis of the pivot of said guide is located, and means between said pivoted guide and said ground supported support for adjusting the inclination of said punch-rod to correspond substantially with the inclination of the surface of the ground in the direction of the piercing movement.

8. In an earth piercing machine, the combination of a ground supported support, 'a frame de nding therefrom, elevating means for lowerlng the lower end of said frame into an excavation lower than said first-named support, an earth piercing rod at the lower 9. In an earth punch piercing device, the

combination of a support above the ground,

an operating head, adjustin `means between said head and said support or lowering said frame for head into an excavation in the ground, a substantially horizontal non-rotatable threaded punch-rod, a non-rotatable piercin punch at the end of said rod, a nut in saidead having threaded connection with said rod, said rod provided with a spline groove, a guide on said head for said rod outside said nut, said guide provided with a feather keynon-rotative about the axis of said threaded rod in said groove to hold said threaded rod nonrotative, and means for rotating said nut.

10. In a lateral earth piercing device, the combination of a ground supported support, a guide having pivotaLconnection therewith, a depending slide on said guide, raising and lowering means for said slide, a substantially horizontal punch-rod at the lower end of said slide, means. at the lower end of said slide for moving said punch-rod axially substantially perpendicular to the vertical'plane in which thel pivotal axis of said pivotalconnection is located, and means on said su port 'and said pivoted guide fordriving said, punching operating means and said raising and lowering means.

11. In an earth piercing machine, the com-A bination'of a wheeled vehicle having a supporting frame extending lengthwise thereof, a pivoted guide pivoted to said frame on a pivot substantially parallel with the axes of the wheels of Psaid vehicle, a depending slide on said guide, a head at the lower end of said slide, a piercing rod in said head, means on said head for supporting said piercing rod and advancing the same in a direction normally substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the axis of said pivot is located, and adjusting means between said wheeled vehicle and said pivoted guide for adjusting the axis of said piercing rod to extend -in a direction substantially parallel with the inclination of the ground lengthioo right slide frame slidable on said guide frame, an operating head at the lower end vof said slide frame.I a geared nut journaled neighboring sections in endwise relation, a

stationarily positioned feather key on said head coacting with said spline grooves for holding said sections nonrotative in said head, elevating means for said slide frame, a drive shaft for said geared nut, reversing gearing on said pivoted frame for driving said drive shaft, gearing operated thereby for raising and loweringmovements of said elevating means, and control 'means for said gearings.

' 13. In an earth piercing device, the combination of a wheeled frame, an upright guide frame pivoted to said wheeled frame, an upright slide frame slidable on said guide frame, an operating head at the lower end of said slide frame, a geared nut journaled in said head, a normally substantially horizontal threaded punching rod in sections, a punching tool at the outer end of one of said sections, said sections provided with spline grooves, releasable connecting means between neighboring sections provided with means for registering the threads and splineA grooves of neighboring sections in endwise relation, a stationarily positioned feather key on said head coacting with said spline grooves for holding said sections non-rotative in said head, elevating means for said slide frame, a drive shaft for said geared nut, reversing gearing on said pivoted frame for driving said drive shaft, gearing operated thereby for raising and lowering movements of said elevating means, control mea-ns for said gearings, and means for pivotally adjusting said upright guideframe whereby to adjust said threaded nut and said threaded rod in a path parallel with the Avertical plane in which said rod is' located.

14. In an earth piercing machine, the combination of a support, a propelling head, adjusting means between said support and said head for lowering said head into an excavation, a punch-rod in sections, said sections provided with propelling formations from end to end for propelling said sections axially, a propelling device in said head prolvided with propelling formations coacting with said first-named propelling formations, power means for driving said propelling device, connecting means between said sections arranged for being connected outside said head while one of the sections being connected is in said head and for passing said propelling device in connectedrelation, said connecting means provided with means xing ing tool at the outer end of the end one of v said punch-rod sections, and means for holding said punch-rod sections in said head against rotation, whereby to uninterruptedly axially advance said non-rotative punch-rod sections by said power means.

15. In an earth piercing machine, the combination of a support, a propelling head, adjusting means between said support and said head for lowerin said head into an excavation, a punch-ro provided with propelling formations from end to end for propelling said sections axially, a propelling device in said head provided with propellin formations coacting with said first-name propelling formations, said last-named propelling formations provided with cleaning means for said first-named propelling formations, connecting means between said sections arranged for being connected outside said head and for passing saidY propelling device in connected relation, a punching tool at the outer end of the end one of said punch-rod sections, and means for holding said punch-rod sectlons in said head non-rotative.

16. In an earth piercing device, the combination of a threaded feed rod in sections, means for releasably connecting said sections in endwise alignment, a punchin tool at the outer end of the end one of sai sections, a nut for said threaded rod, said sections provided with spline grooves arranged in alignment when said secti ns are connected endwise, guides for said fed at the respective ends of said nut, said ,guides provided with non-rotating feather leys coacting with said spline grooves for holding said threaded rod sections non-rotative, and means for rotating said nut and thereby feeding said threaded rod sections axially. f L

17. In an earth piercing device, the combination of a threaded .feed rod in sections, means for releasably connecting said sections in endwise alignment, a punching tool at the outer end of the end one of said sections, a nut for said threaded rod, said sections provided with spline grooves arranged in alignment when said sections are connected endwise, guides for said rod at the respective ends of said nut, said guides provided with nonrotating feather keys coacting with said spline grooves for holding said threaded rod sections non-rotative, and means for rotating said nut and thereby feeding said threaded rod sections axially, said nut provided with scraping means for cleaning the threads of said threaded rod sections.

18. In an earth piercing machine for piercing a lateral hole in the ground substantially parallel-with its surface under said surface,

in sections, said sections the combination of a wheeled vehicle ar-` ranged to be supported on the ground at the Y 'edge of 'an excavation in the ground, said wheeled vehicle comprising a frame, an upright guide pivoted to said frame on an axis substantially parallel with the axes of the Wheels of said vehicle, a dependin slide on said guide a punching head at the ower end of said slide arranged to be lowered'into said 10 excavation, a punching bar therein, advancing means on said head for advancing said punching bar, said last-named means and said punching bar having axes substantiall perpendicular to the vertical lane in whic the axis of the pivot of said pivoted guide is located and parallel with said wheeled vehicle, and means between said first-named frame and said pivoted yguide for adjusting said pivoted guide on its ivot and thereb 2 causing inclination of sai axes of said a vancing means and of said punching bar into substantial parallelism with the inclination of the surface of the ground lengthwise of said vehicle.

19. In an earth piercing device, the combination of a head, an adjustable sup ort for said head, a threaded nut journale in said head, a threaded rod threaded in said threaded nut, a punching tool at the end of said rod,

3 guides on said head for said threaded rod at the respective ends of said threaded nut, said Y threaded rod provided with a spline groove feather keys 1n said guides received 1n said groove for holding said threaded rod against rotation in said nut, and means for rotating said nut in reverse directions.

20. In an earth piercing device, the combination of a head, an adjustable support for said head, a threaded nut journaled in said 4 head, a threaded rod threaded in said threaded nut, a punchin tool at the end` of said rod, guides on sai head for'said threaded rod at the res ctive ends of said threaded nut, said threa ed rod provided with a spline groove, feather ke s in said uides received 'in said groove for olding said threaded rod against rotation in said nut, and means for rotating said nut in reverse directions, said nut provided with rotating scraping means Y coacting with the threads of said rod for cleaning the latter.

In testimony whereof We have affixed our signatures.

" lJOSEPH R. SWEENEY.

EDMUND W. ROBERTS. 

